Folding box



Dec. 14 1926.

- E. L. HEDSTROM,

FOLDING BOX Filed March 7; 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 14 1926. Q

E. L. HEDSTROM FOLDING BOX F'iled M}.

rch '7 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 14 1926. 1,611,029

E. L. HEDSTROM FOLDING BOX Filed March '7 19g 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

WE E.

ERIC L. HEDSTRQM, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK,

l tlhdtd ASSIG-IQ'OB TO COOPER BOX FOLDING- BOX.

Application filed March 7,19%. Serial No 697,659.

This invention relates more particularly to a folding paper box or carton in which cake and baked goods may be packed although the same may beused for packing other kinds of commodities for the trade.

it is the object or this invention to provide an improved box oi this character which is so constructedthat a larger number of box blanks can be cut from a certain amount of sheet material and thus effect a saving in material cost, which can be easily and rapidly unfolded and thus reduce the cost of packing, which can be conveniently and se curely closed after the article to be packed is placed therein, avoids the necessity of securing the box in a closed position a tie string or a pasted labell and which is strong and durable and eilectually"protects the article within the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View ofthe blank from which my improved folding box is constructed and showing the same in relation to other lanks cut from the same sheet or material; Fi ure Pfis a vertical longitudinal section oi the box in its closed position,-

and taken on line 2-2, Figure 10. Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section of the same taken on line 3-3, Figure 10 looking torwardly. Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line itl, Figure 8 looking upwardly. Figure 5 is aperspective view of the box containing my invention showing the same slightly expanded after being taken from a stack of stored folded boxes preparatory to being unfolded for use. Figure 6 is a similar view showing the box partly unfolded in which the bottom has been flattened in its normal horizontal position and side walls and side flaps partly unfolded and the-front and rear walls tipped into an inclined position towardea'ch other. Figure 7 is a similar view showing the position of the parts of the box'in which the side walls and flaps have been :t'ully unfolded in anupright position and the frontand rear walls raised into an upright normal position. Figure 8 is a similar view showing the side flaps bent downwardly into their normal horizontal position in which the sa1ne'p roject inwardly from the sidewalls. Figure 9 is a similar view showing the'lid partly closed and the sealing flap partly inserted within the front part of the box preparatory to being interlocked with the side flaps. Figure 10 is a similar View showing the lid completely closed andlocked on the front part of the box body Figure it is a side vieiv of Elf '"liillHOVQCllJOX showthe same closely folded and its several parts in the position which they occupy when a plurality of such tolded boxes are pressed together for storage'or shipment.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

This carton is made from a single sheet of comparatively stiti' ioldable material,preferably paper, although any other suitable i'naterial may be used and the eXp'ression paper as hereinafter used is to be understood as not only including paper of the ordinary kind but also other materials of similar character.

' In its general construction this ioldable box comprises a flat horizontal rectangular bottom 10, an upright rear wall 11 projecting upwardly from; the rear edge of the bottom, an upright front wall 12 projecting upwardly tromthe front edge of the bottom, two side walls 13 projectii'ig upwardly from opposite longitudinal edges of thebottom, a flat rectangular to or lid 14 arranged above the upper edges oi? the walls and connected at its rear edge with the upper edge of tho rear wall, an upright locking flap l5 connected at its upper edge witlr'the front edge of the lid and adapted to be arranged on the inner side oil the front wall, connecting flaps 1G arrai ged at opposite ends of the front and rear Walls and'secured by glue,

cement or other adhesive to the inner sides oi the side wallsadjacent to the front and rear cnds oi the same, and two horizontal side or guard flaps 17 projecting inwardly from the upper edges of the side walls l'il. The front and rear walls of thebox are uncreased and are turned toward the bottom along the "front and rear folding lines or creases 1S and 19 between these parts, the top 14L is turned along the transverse folding line 20 between the top and rear wall-Lathe locking flap 15 is turned relatively to the top along a folding line 21 and each or the side walls. is turned at its lower edge-rela t'ively to the adjacent part of thebo'ttom along a folding'line 22.

The bottom is provided midway between its "front and rear edges with a transit so folding line or crease 36 which-divides the same into front and rear rectangular oblong A sections. Each of the side walls is provided nidway between its front and rear ends with a vertical crease or folding line 37 which forms an extension of the bottom line 36 a (l also with oblique or inclined creases or folding lines 38 extending divergently from the upper end of the folding line 37 downward; to the lower front and rear corners of the respective side wall, thereby dividing each of these walls into four triangular sections comprising two central sections, 23, 23. which are connected with each other along the vertical line 37 and also connected with the bottom along the adjacent line 2:2, and front and rear sections 24:, 25 which are connected with the central sections along the inclined lines 38 and with the adjacent side flaps along the line 28.

Each of the side flaps 17 is divided into front and rear sections by a transverse crease or folding line 31 which forms an extension of the line 37 of the adjacent side wall. At its front and rear edges, each of the side flaps 17 is also beveled or cut away, as shown at 32 and 33. At its opposite ends the locking flap is provided with short locking cars 34 which are foldable relatively thereto along vertically folding lines or creases between the same. i

In the ltnocn-down condition of the blank or sheet of paper from which this box is constructed the rear wall 11, lid li and look ing flap 15 are arranged in the same plane, the bottom is folded along the line 36 so that together with the front and rear wall a form is produced resembling the letter W, the side walls are folded so that the central triangular sections of the same straddle the bottom sections and the front and rearsect-ions of the same are arranged between the central sections and the front and rear walls, and side flaps project upwardly from the side walls and are folded on the lines 31 to conform to the position of the front and rear sections 24, 25.

W hen a plurality of such folded cartons are packed closely the several parts thereof are pressed closely together, as shown in Figure 11, but when the same are taken from the pile or stack preparatory to being filled, the same due to the resilience of the mate rial of which they are made spring open or become distended or expand more or less. Preparatory to fully opening or unfolding a carton the operator first places the same in an upright position with the lower front and rear corners resting on a table or other suitable support so that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5. While in this position the operator places his hands along opposite sides of the folded box and presses the thumbs downwardly on the outer corners 89 between the folded bottom and the central sections of the side walls so that the sections of the bottom are unfolded in a flat horizontal position relatively to each other and the central sections of the side walls are fully unfolded and the end sections of the same and the side flaps are partly unfolded, as shown in Figure 6. The'operator now engages the thumbs with the corners between the inwardy folded side flaps and draws the same outwardly together with the side so that the several sections of each side wal and the respective side flap stand in a flat upright position, as shown in Figure 7. After the operator has spread apart or unfolded the side walls. the side flaps are turned inwardly into a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 8, so that the same serves as a guard which overhangs the article placed in the box and protects the same and also serves to stiffen the side walls and maintain them more rigidly in an upright position.

The fastening flaps 16 are prefer ly substantial triangular form and engz p with the adjacent end sections as and 25 of the side walls, and do not extend across the creases or folding lines 26 and 27 so that these fastening flaps ldwill not interfere with the free folding of the box: 7

Upon turning the side flaps inwardly, the rear edges 33 of the same are permitted to clear the adjacent parts of the lid and not interfere therewith by reason of the fact that these edges are cut away or beveled, as previously explained, thereby enabling the box to be set up rapidly.

For the purpose of covering the cake the lid is bent downwardly relatively to the rear wall, the locking flap is turned downwardly on the lid into a vertical position. Upon lowering the lid the locking flap is engaged at its lower edge with the side flaps at a distance from the front ends thereof and at the time the operator bends the locking ears backwardly against the rear side of the locking flap. Then the locking flap is drawn forwardly against the inner side of the front wall, as shown in Figure 9, and pushed downwardly with the lid and after the locking ears have come in line with the front edge of the side flaps these ears are released, but are prevented from unfolding completely by engaging the front ends of the side flaps. After the locking flap has been started in its'downward movement be tween the front wall and the side flaps, a further downward pressure on the lid completes this movement so that the lid engages with the top of the side flaps, as shown in Figure 10, and completes the operation of packing the article. During the last part of the downward movement of the lid and locking flap the locking ears pass below the side flaps and due to their inherent resilience spring away from the locking flap and project underneath the side flaps, so that now the lid is locked in its closed position. By beveling the front ends of the side ill) flaps the downward passage of the locking ears between the same and the. front wall is facilitated and the packing of the mate rial in the box is expedited.

lVhen stamping or cutting the blanks of these boxes out of the sheet material, the wide part of each blank which contains the side walls is cut from the sheet next to the narrow part of an adjacent blank containing the lid, as shown in Figure 1, thereby economizing in the use of material and reducing the cost of production accordingly.

A folding box or carton constructed in accordance with this invention can be produced economically from a minimum amount of material and folded compactly so as to occupy very little space for storage and transportation, and when erected or unfolded ready for use the same forms a box which is very strong and durable and reliably holds its shape so as to form a satisfactory receptacle for the cake or other goods which are to be packed therein.

Moreover, by locking the cover of the box in its closed position, the contents are prevented from being accidentally removed therefrom and are more securely protected while the box is being shipped or handled.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding box comprising a rectangular bottom, front, rear and side walls rising from the edges of said bottom, side flaps projecting inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls, a lid projecting forwardly from the upper edge of said rear wall, and

a locking flap projecting downwardly from the front edge of said lid along the inner side of said front wall and provided at its opposite ends with rearwardly projecting locking ears which engage with the underside of the front ends of said side flaps.

2. A folding box comprising a rectangular bottom, front, rear and side walls rising from the edges of said bottom, side flaps projecting inwardly from the upper edges of said side Walls, a lid projecting forwardly from the upper edge of said rear wall, a locking flap projecting downwardly from the front edge of said lid. along the inner side of said front wall, and locking ears which project rearwardly from opposite ends of said locking flap and which engage with the underside of the front ends of said side flaps, the front ends of said side flaps being beveled.

3. A folding box comprising a rectangular bottom, front, rear and side walls rising from the edges of said bottom, side flaps projecting inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls, a lid projecting forwardly from the upper edge of said rear wall, and a locking flap projecting downwardly from the front edge of said lid along the inner side of said front wall and provided at its opposite ends with rearwardly projecting locking ears which engage with the underside of the front ends of said side flaps, the front and rear ends of said side flaps being beveled.

ERIC L. HEDSTROM. 

